Tashkent airport: reports and Q&A

[steven]

A new international terminal has opened in Tashkent. Looking for experiences!

http://tashkenttimes.uz/national/2493-n ... ov-airport

https://caravanistan.com/uzbekistan/cen ... t/airport/

[leela]

I'm getting conflicting information about whether or not there's a luggage storage facility at the airport. I have a 13 hour layover and plan to go into the city for the afternoon and evening (I have a visa).

Though a hostel I stayed in a few weeks ago would probably look after my bags, it'd be a lot simpler to leave them at the airport. Anyone know for certain if that's possible? My flight out is the dreaded 02:40 Turkish Airlines, so it'd need to be 24 hour accessible.

[leela]

Regarding the new terminal, I think it's just arrivals at this point. At the beginning of my trip a month ago, I arrived at the original terminal. But yesterday, coming in from Almaty, I arrived to the new terminal. When I left Tashkent for the UK in the early hours of this morning, Departures looked much the same as when I was last there four years ago.

Signage on arrival is horrible. The new terminal is called Arrivals 2 on the signs. But of course that means nothing when you've just got off the plane. It just makes you question where you should go, as instinctively you think that there's an alternative, so you doubt yourself. Fortunately they have staff dotted around who soon tell you if you've gone the wrong way.
The immigration hall is HUGE with whole ranks of cabins for immigration officers. But no way of knowing which ones are inhabited, or where you should line up. Again though, they have people dotted about to tell you that you've got it wrong! The baggage hall is new and fairly calm. Arrival of bags took forever, but that might not be anything to do with the new terminal as such

So yep, it's fairly shiny, but there are teething issues which make arrival somewhat disconcerting and confusing. The good news is that taxi drivers are now kept a distance away from the terminal exit, so you're not surrounded as soon as you clear customs!

[Carafa]

I arrived on July 11th. Queue took about 3 minutes. I handed over my passport, the customs official looked at it for about 15 seconds,smiled said "Welcome to Uzbekistan" and handed it back.

Luggage was out pretty much right away too!

Will give a departure report when I leave!

[ayala]

does anyone knows if it is possible already to exchange Sum back to USD in the airport upon departure ?

[leela]

I saw an exchange kiosk in the landside part of the departure terminal, so I assume that it's possible. I was there after midnight, and it appeared to be open. I'd already swapped my som, so didn't test it out, I'm afraid.

[blakep76]

I arrived at the new terminal a few weeks ago. Immigration was extremely fast, with seemingly 20 or so lanes open, so no more than one person waiting in line at each. Baggage on the other hand was horrific. 3 bags coming out at once and then a 3-4 minute wait until another 3. Took almost 90 minutes to collect one bag. The neighboring carousel seemed to be having similar problems. Customs is a non-issue....just walk through the green channel (assuming you aren't declaring anything). I guess they know who they are looking out for. There didn't appear to be a money changer in the new terminal, so I had to walk outside, turn left.....walk 100 meters or so to the old terminal, head up the escalators to departures and head inside. The rate at the airport money changer was actually better than the rate I got at a bank in downtown Tashkent the next day. Keep the receipt as it's (theoretically) possible to change your som back to hard currency here. The airport taxi drivers who approach you are generally liars and theives. Bypass them and head 100 meters or so away from the terminal to the metered taxis. But be aware even the legit taxis will try and screw you or say 'no' if they see you with the crooked guys in tow, so really make an effort to lose them first. Depending where you are headed in Tashkent assume 15-30,000som.

As far as departures when you arrive at the airport, as you are exiting the car park you will first go through metal detector and have a wand run over your bags. Wen you get to the terminal you will be metal detected and bags x-rayed again. Then comes check in. Next is customs 'Do you have more than $2,000?'.....hand luggage x-rayed again. Immigration. A very cursory check of the registration papers. Not so strict....apparently (according to one hotel manager) it is all centrally computerized now, and even if you have lost the papers they can access your info at the airport. *Another* more thorough x-ray of the bags and metal detector. You need to take your shoes off at this point too. Also you *can* take liquids past all the checks and into the departures terminal, so no need to ditch the last of the vodka/water. Overall pretty friendly staff. Smiley and talkative. Be aware though most of these checks only had one x-ray/metal detector. I arrived at the airport 4 hours before my flight so it was pretty quiet. I dread to think how long the lines would be were there 3 or 4 flights checking in at once.

No huge dramas on arrival or departures though.

[leela]

Re: baggage collection, it also seemed as though the new carousels had been badly designed. As suitcases appeared through the tunnel, they got jammed against the side and didn't make it to the conveyor. Consequently there was a guy stationed there whose job was to pick up each bag and get it on the belt. There's clearly a problem, as I was on a smallish plane that wasn't full, and it still took an hour for my bag to come through. So though everything else was super quick compared to the immigration/customs in the past, still don't plan to get away from the airport promptly, until the baggage claim problems are solved. Especially if you're on a wide bodied plane.

[jeanjacques]

I flew into Tashkent on August 17th via Uzbekistan Airways. I have not experienced any problem. When you enter the terminal after getting off the bus that takes you from the plane, you can change money before the passport control on the right side in a cabin similar to the one used by the passport control officers. Then go to the passport officer. Just give your passport which will be stamped, and you are in. I was not even stopped for the baggage inspection. Before you go out of the terminal, you can get a voucher for a taxi downtown on the left side just after the potential baggage inspection. I did not feel like bargaining or facing the horde of taxi drivers so I got a voucher for 50000 soms which is C$ 8.35 for downtown. I also bought an Uzbek SIM card for 21000 som which is C$ 3.50. I was escorted to the taxi driver who took my bag. Entering Uzbekistan, changing money, getting a SIM card and into the taxi took about 25 minutes without any hassle. I would have saved what? C$ 3? Wasted half an hour and a lot of stress? Not worth it. Nobody asked about foreign currencies, prescription medicine or any form to fill in duplicate. Easier than going into the US

[jeanjacques]

I forgot to mention that there are no ATM at the airport terminal presently, so carry a bit of cash. I found that the Radisson Blu has ATMs for Visa and for Mastercard. I have Visa and at this ATM, you have the choice to withdraw money in soms or in US $ The Radisson Blu is located about 200 meter from the Bodomzor metro station, on Amir Tamur ko'chasi. Very easy to find, the TV tower that you see from anywhere in Tashkent is on the same street, about 200 meters from the metro station. Enjoy Tashkent, it is a nice city.